Cody Christie

Image courtesy of © Nick Wosika-Imagn Images Every season brings a handful of players who rewrite their own narratives. Sometimes it's health. Sometimes it's timing. Sometimes it's simply baseball being baseball. For the Minnesota Twins, 2026 sets up as a year where several familiar names could remind the league why the expectations were so high in the first place. Matt Wallner, Royce Lewis, and Brooks Lee all entered 2025 with hype and finished it in a cloud of disappointment. That combination makes them ideal candidates to surprise in the season ahead. Matt Wallner Wallner entered 2025 as one of the few hitters coming off a legitimately strong 2024 campaign. He was expected to be a middle-of-the-order force and a stabilizing presence, alongside the veteran bats. Instead, his season never quite found a rhythm. An oblique strain and back spasms limited his availability and consistency, and while a 110 OPS+ is nothing to scoff at, it paled in comparison to the 143 OPS+ he averaged across 2023 and 2024. When Wallner was healthy, the impact still flashed, but it came in shorter bursts than the Twins needed. Looking ahead to 2026, the underlying traits remain extremely enticing. Wallner’s 76.6-mph bat speed is among the best in the league, and his 11.8% walk rate shows a hitter who understands the strike zone. Those two skills tend to age well, and offer a sturdy foundation even when things are not clicking perfectly. With better health and a full season of at-bats, Wallner has a clear path back to being a difference maker in the heart of the lineup. Royce Lewis Trying to define Lewis’s next step feels like trying to hit a moving target. On paper, 2025 looked like progress. He appeared in a career-high 106 games and showed tangible defensive improvement at third base. Offensively, however, the offensive results were jarring. His 83 OPS+ was not what anyone envisioned, especially for a player once viewed as a franchise cornerstone. A hamstring injury in spring training cost him Opening Day, and the same issue resurfaced later in the summer, interrupting any momentum. The Twins are betting that a healthy runway changes everything. This winter, the organization has been vocal in its support of Lewis, which feels intentional. Confidence has always been part of his profile, and the flashes are still there. Last June offered a glimpse, when he went 11-for-28 (.393 BA) with three extra base hits. Once the hamstring acted up again, that stretch became a footnote, instead of a turning point. As a right-handed hitter on a roster heavy with left-side bats, Lewis brings lineup balance that Minnesota sorely needs. If his body cooperates, the impact could be immediate. Brooks Lee From the moment the Twins selected Lee in the first round of the 2022 draft, his calling card was simple: He hit. That profile carried him through the minors, where he posted a .289 batting average with an .836 OPS across parts of four seasons. The transition to the majors has been far less kind. Over his first two big-league seasons, Lee owns a .636 OPS and a 75 OPS+, numbers that fall well short of expectations. What makes Lee intriguing is that many of the building blocks remain intact. He continues to square the ball up at a strong rate (28.6% of the time, as a percentage of all swings), and his 17.5% strikeout rate suggests a hitter who is not overmatched. In 2026, Lee is set to take over as the primary shortstop, a role that comes with both opportunity and pressure. In the minors, his power was more pronounced from the right side of the plate. So far in the majors, his production has been more evenly split, with just 33 points of OPS separating his two sides. If that right-sided power shows up consistently, Lee’s offensive profile could take a meaningful step forward. What It Means If They All Click Individually, each of these players has a chance for a major rebound. Collectively, the impact could be enormous. A productive Wallner lengthens the lineup and protects the middle order. A healthy and confident Lewis adds right-handed thump and positional stability at third base. A more comfortable Lee at shortstop provides on-base skills and contact ability. Suddenly, the Twins' lineup looks deeper, more balanced, and far less dependent on a small group of veterans carrying the load. Baseball seasons often hinge on these types of internal surprises. If even two of these three take a step forward, Minnesota benefits. If all three find their stride in the same season, the Twins could field one of their most complete lineups in years. Of course, that's a big collection of 'if's. Which of these three players do you believe is most likely to surprise the league in 2026, and why? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation. View full article

Image courtesy of © Matt Krohn-Imagn Images If Minnesota Twins fans feel like they've heard this story before, it is because they have. Nearly 30 years separate the current financial messaging from the late 1990s, but the current posture from ownership feels almost identical. The numbers have grown, the league has changed, and revenues have exploded, but the Pohlad family continues to rely on the same explanations and expectations. In December 1998, Jim Pohlad and Twins president Jerry Bell attempted to justify a dramatic rollback in spending by saying, “We’re open to suggestions.” Those suggestions came alongside the revelation that the Twins would operate on a payroll as low as $10 million for the 1999 season, easily the lowest in Major League Baseball. The Pohlads claimed losses of up to $60 million over the prior five seasons, despite the team carrying a $27-million payroll in 1998. At that time, 10 individual MLB players were earning higher average salaries than the Twins' entire roster. To be fair, ownership did have a tangible grievance in that era. The Metrodome lease was widely viewed as one of the worst stadium deals in baseball. Revenue streams were limited, premium seating was minimal, and the Twins had little control over key income sources. That poor stadium arrangement was often cited as a primary reason for the team’s financial struggles, and it was not without merit. The economics of baseball in the 1990s were far different, and Minnesota was genuinely operating at a disadvantage compared to teams with modern facilities. That context, however, came with a darker edge. The Pohlad family did not simply plead poverty. They openly flirted with contraction. The Twins were repeatedly floated as a candidate for elimination, a threat that hung over the fan base and the state. It was leverage then, just as financial distress often feels like leverage now. It might well be that the intention to contract was never real, but the elaborate charade the team and league undertook was proof of their commitment to extracting money and power from the community. The baseball operations side of the organization leaned into the same logic. Then-general manager Terry Ryan attempted to normalize the payroll gap. “After this season, everyone could see that the teams that were paying $40 million weren’t doing any better than the teams paying $15 million," he said. "Right now, if you’re at $60 million, you might as well be at $20 million.” It was a convenient argument, at the dawn of an era that would soon prove spending absolutely mattered. Fast-forward nearly three decades, and the justifications sound hauntingly familiar. The Twins reportedly accumulated more than $500 million in debt (much of it, whether the family cares to admit it or not, freighted onto the Twins as the Pohlads' commercial real estate investments took huge post-COVID hits) and were put up for sale in late 2024. When a full sale failed to materialize, the team was pulled off the market, and minority shares were sold to multiple investment groups to stabilize finances. Once again, the Pohlad family has suggested that operating the team itself costs more than they make. That explanation lands far differently in 2026. The Twins now play in a publicly funded, revenue-friendly ballpark that dramatically altered the franchise’s financial outlook. Target Field was supposed to put an end to the Metrodome excuses. There is no bad lease to point to now. There is no outdated facility suppressing revenue. There is no legitimate comparison to the late 1990s environment. Yet, the same talking points persist. For 2026, the Twins are projected to have a payroll of around $100 million. In today’s MLB landscape, that places them uncomfortably close to the bottom. Eight teams are currently projected lower, and four more are within $5 million and could easily surpass Minnesota before Opening Day. Cleveland, Tampa Bay, and Miami all sit below $80 million, and the Twins would likely only join them by trading Pablo López (and his $21-million contract) and further thinning the roster. For a franchise that insists it wants sustained competitiveness, the margin for error remains razor-thin. Ownership continues to rely on the same narrative it has used for decades. They say (implausibly) that the team is losing money. They say the economics are complex, and that spending must be restrained. If that is truly the case, the solution is obvious: Sell the team. Owning a Major League Baseball franchise is not a civic obligation. Other organizations are making money while fielding competitive teams, year after year. If the Twins are a financial burden rather than a viable business, then it is time for the Pohlad family to step aside. They aren't, of course; that's a lie. If the family is dedicated to that lie, though, they still ought to sell. For fans searching for hope, it may exist beyond the 2027 season and the potential for another lockout. A reset of baseball’s economic structure could create a more favorable environment and allow the Pohlads to sell the franchise at a price they consider acceptable. That outcome might finally close a chapter that has dragged on far too long. Until then, Twins fans are left watching the same movie on repeat. The excuses are familiar. The stakes feel lower than contraction, but the frustration is just as real. Is this simply history repeating itself, or is there still a path forward with the current ownership group? Share your thoughts in the comments. View full article

Image courtesy of © Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images The Minnesota Twins made a quiet but telling roster move this week, bringing veteran shortstop Orlando Arcia into the organization on a minor-league contract with an invitation to big-league camp. It is not the type of signing that sells jerseys or sparks a hot stove frenzy, but it fits squarely into the front office's plan for 2026. Derek Falvey loves to set a floor for the roster, and Arcia adds depth to a critical position. Arcia arrives in Minnesota with a decade of major-league experience. He split last season between Atlanta and Colorado, logging time with two very different clubs and producing very similar results. By nearly every modern metric, he was among the least productive hitters in baseball with regular playing time. That is not new; he's always been a glove-first shortstop. Now 32, he has been the worst hitter with 800 or more plate appearances over the past two seasons. His 33 wRC+ was both a career low and the second-lowest of any player who took at least 200 trips to the plate in 2025. His glove keeps him employable, but only in a limited role, and only on a team willing to accept the offensive tradeoff. There is some modest platoon usefulness, as his numbers have historically played a bit better against left-handed pitching (his OPS was 50 points higher versus lefties in 2025), but even that comes with caveats. The appeal here is almost entirely about defense, experience, and surviving a long season. Earlier in his career with Milwaukee, Arcia was a plus defender at shortstop, combining for 13 OAA from 2017-18. Those days are gone, but he still grades out as serviceable, and last year he expanded his résumé by appearing at every infield position, including first base. On a roster where flexibility is often the difference between treading water and sinking, a player who can competently move around the diamond carries real value. This signing is best understood through the lens of Brooks Lee. After being thrust into the starting shortstop role following the Carlos Correa trade, Lee handled a challenging assignment with professionalism, even if the results were uneven. Over 139 games, he posted a .236/.285/.370 line for a 79 OPS+. The Twins remain confident in his long-term outlook, but he hasn't shown enough to be trusted as the only true shortstop on an active roster. Behind Lee, the depth chart thins quickly. Ryan Kreidler provides defensive value but makes Arcia look like a robust hitter. Minnesota learned painfully over the last two seasons how quickly an infield can unravel when injuries hit, and Lee isn't even an inspiring first choice. Arcia gives the Twins a veteran option who can start 40 to 60 games if needed, and prevent the position from becoming a nightly adventure. If he breaks camp with the club, he'll have a short leash. If he does not, he becomes a highly experienced presence at Triple-A St. Paul and the first call when things go sideways. This is not a move about upside. It is about competence and protection. The Twins can afford creativity in the corners and even in the outfield. Shortstop is different. Minnesota cannot afford another season in which defensive erosion forces the roster into damage-control mode. Signing Arcia will not fix the lineup, but it might keep a small problem from becoming a big one. Sometimes that is exactly the point. What are your initial impressions of the Arcia signing? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

Image courtesy of © Matt Blewett-Imagn Images Baseball is not supposed to be as easy as Byron Buxton made it look at times during the 2025 season. Even the best hitters in the world need a little help from batted ball luck, sequencing, and timing for numbers to truly pop. For the Minnesota Twins, several hitters posted surface-level results that outpaced what underlying metrics suggested should have happened. That does not mean those performances were flukes, but it does provide valuable context as we look ahead to 2026. To frame the discussion, the league-wide average wOBA in 2025 sat at .313, while the average expected wOBA came in slightly higher at .315. wOBA is designed to measure overall offensive value by weighing the quality of contact alongside strikeouts and walks. Expected wOBA uses batted ball data to estimate what a hitter should have produced based on how hard and at what angles the ball was hit. When wOBA significantly outpaces expected wOBA, it often points toward overachievement that may be difficult to repeat. Luke Keaschall Keaschall posted a .363 wOBA in 2025, despite an expected mark of .323. That gap of roughly forty points stands out quickly. The underlying reasons are pretty straightforward when digging into his batted ball profile. Keaschall did not barrel the baseball often, finishing with a 5.2% Barrel rate. That is well below what you would typically expect from a hitter producing at that level. Where Keaschall made his money was against offspeed pitches. He slugged .556 against them and actually outperformed his expected numbers by +.122 xwOBA compared to his wOBA in that pitch bucket. That suggests a combination of good pitch recognition and favorable outcomes on balls that weren't always crushed. Looking ahead to 2026, some offensive pullback feels likely. Still, Keaschall does not need to repeat a near .360 wOBA to be valuable. If he tightens up the quality of contact even marginally, he can remain a productive bat who helps the lineup reach the next level. Alan Roden Roden is an interesting case because the majority of his at-bats came in Toronto. Acquired as part of the Louis Varland trade, Roden appeared in just 12 games for the Twins. For the season, he finished with a .249 wOBA, compared to an expected mark of .225, a gap of about 24 points. Roden struggled to hit the ball with authority, posting a 2.0% Barrel rate. Much of his contact was on the softer side, which generally caps offensive upside. However, his biggest separation between results and expectations came against breaking pitches. That is where he hit both of his home runs and most of his extra-base hits, outperforming his expected numbers by +.089 in that area. The 2026 outlook is more optimistic than the Twins sample alone would suggest. Roden profiles nicely as a fourth outfielder and has the defensive ability to back up Buxton in center field. There is also real offensive upside here, as evidenced by his 151 wRC+ at Triple-A last season. If that production translates even partially, Roden could carve out a meaningful role. Byron Buxton Buxton’s 2025 season featured a .367 wOBA and a .348 expected mark, a difference of just under twenty points. While smaller than the other gaps on this list, it still qualifies as overachievement given how high the baseline already is. The reasons are primarily tied to Buxton doing Buxton things. He punishes fastballs, producing a wOBA that was 32 points higher than his expected output against them. He also continues to hit the ball extremely hard, posting a 53.8% Hard Hit rate that places him among the elite in baseball. His expected slugging percentage has topped .500 in each of the last two seasons, which helps explain why his offensive floor is so high. Replicating his 2025 totals will not be easy. Some dip in production is a reasonable expectation. However, the Twins' bigger goal is availability. If Buxton can play more than 100 games for a third straight season, something he has yet to do in his career, even a slightly reduced offensive line would be a massive boost to the roster. Overachieving seasons are not inherently bad things. They often represent players maximizing their strengths and benefiting from favorable conditions along the way. For the Twins, understanding where production outpaced expectations helps set realistic goals for 2026. Keaschall, Roden, and Buxton each bring different skill sets and different risk profiles, but all three showed how impactful things can be when results break the right way. Which of these hitters do you think is most likely to beat the projections again in 2026, and who worries you the most when it comes to regression? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. View full article

Image courtesy of © Matt Blewett-Imagn Images The 2025 season was another frustrating chapter for the Minnesota Twins. After another disappointing finish, a brief poll of fans might include nearly everyone on the roster when asked who underachieved at the plate. Royce Lewis struggled to stay on the field. Matt Wallner could not recapture his earlier impact. A slew of other players fell short of expectations as well. Still, when digging into the underlying data, the totals for three hitters are hard to ignore because the gap between results and the quality of contact tells a very different story. League-wide context helps frame the discussion. MLB average wOBA in 2025 sat at .313, while average xwOBA checked in at .315. For those unfamiliar, wOBA is a catch-all metric that values the quality of contact along with strikeouts and walks. At the same time, xwOBA uses Statcast inputs like exit velocity and launch angle to estimate what should have happened. When a hitter shows a significant positive gap between xwOBA and wOBA, it often points toward bad luck rather than a broken approach. Edouard Julien Julien posted a .286 wOBA compared to a .330 xwOBA, creating a massive +.044 difference. The most glaring issue came against offspeed pitches, where he showed a 165-point gap between actual and expected production. His .208 slugging percentage versus a .471 expected slugging against those offerings underscores just how much damage failed to show up in the box score. Julien continued to hit the ball hard with a 12.2 Barrel percentage and a 39.0 LA-Sweet Spot rate, both strong indicators of sustainable offense. Looking ahead to 2026, Julien’s elite plate discipline remains his calling card. He chased just 19.8 percent of pitches, which should continue to put him in favorable counts. If he can get back to punishing fastballs the way he did during his rookie season, the production should rebound. With no minor league options remaining, Julien will need to prove he can provide consistent value to the big league roster. Since he doesn’t have a defensive home, his production must come at the plate. Kody Clemens Clemens finished 2025 with a .307 wOBA and a .331 xwOBA, a +.024 gap that hints at some missed opportunities. The Twins gave him extended playing time for the first time in his career and largely liked what they saw. Clemens made solid contact with a 12.0 Barrel percentage and a 35.9 Sweet-Spot rate. Fastballs were the pitch type whose results lagged most behind expectations, with a 32-point difference. He saw heaters more than 58 percent of the time, so doing more damage there could quickly lift his overall line. The outlook for 2026 is more complicated. Minnesota discussed using Clemens as the regular first baseman before signing Josh Bell. Clemens is the better defender at the position, so there is still a path for both players to share the lineup, with Bell sliding to designated hitter. His theoretical defensive versatility will get him playing time, and he was one of the team’s clubhouse leaders in the second half. With a 96 OPS+, Clemens already profiles as close to a league-average bat. Closing the gap between actual and expected numbers could push him firmly into that tier. James Outman Outman’s surface numbers were rough, highlighted by a .237 wOBA and a .267 xwOBA for a +.030 difference. He arrived at the trade deadline in the deal that sent Brock Stewart away, and most of his big league plate appearances in 2025 came with Minnesota. Outside of his excellent 16.9 Barrel percentage, many of his Statcast metrics lagged behind league norms. That makes his minor league track record impossible to ignore. At Triple-A last season, Outman posted a .945 OPS with a 131 wRC+, showing a hitter who still knows how to punish mistakes. For 2026, roster status looms large. Outman is out of minor league options, meaning the Twins must either find him a role or risk losing him. His ability to cover all three outfield spots makes him a natural fit as the team’s fourth outfielder. If even a portion of his Triple-A production carries over, the Twins could uncover sneaky value. Underachievement defined much of the Twins offense in 2025, but Julien, Clemens, and Outman stand out because the data suggests they deserved better outcomes. Expected metrics are not guarantees, yet they often serve as early indicators of rebound potential. If luck swings back toward the mean in 2026, this trio could quietly reshape the lineup. Which of these hitters do you believe is most likely to bounce back next season, or is there another Twin you would add to this list? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. And stop by later today to see who the Twins' three luckiest hitters were. View full article

Image courtesy of © Reid Glenn / USA TODAY NETWORK The start of a new year is supposed to bring optimism, fresh goals, and the belief that this time things will be different. For the Minnesota Twins, that optimism usually lasts until about mid-April, when the weather is bad, the bats are cold, and everyone is already checking the wild-card standings. Still, resolutions are important, and if nothing else, they give us something to laugh about while waiting for baseball to matter again. With that in mind, here are some New Year’s resolutions for key members of the Twins organization as they brace for another season of vibes, missed opportunities, and selective optimism. Tom Pohlad: Learning Where the Checkbook Is Taking over the reins from Joe Pohlad means Tom now gets the privilege of being blamed for everything. His resolution is simple in theory and impossible in practice: figure out how to look like a modern baseball owner without actually spending like one. This includes mastering the art of saying the words 'competitive' and 'sustainable' in the same sentence while carefully avoiding any firm commitments. Bonus points if he can attend a game in April and convince fans that better days are coming without specifying when. Derek Falvey: Turning Water Into Wins on a Budget Falvey resolves to once again prove that a roughly $100 million payroll can survive in a league where that figure barely buys a top-tier starter elsewhere. The goal is to outsmart teams that simply buy stars by finding value in versatility, depth, and guys who once had a good month in 2019. If the Twins sneak into contention, Falvey will be praised as a genius. If not, the team can always trade away its stars at next year’s trade deadline. Derek Shelton: Watching From Afar and Doing the Math After being fired by Pittsburgh, Shelton now has the unique experience of watching his former team potentially outspend the Twins. His resolution is to process that information without laughing too loudly. Somewhere along the way, he might also remind people that managing with limited resources builds character, even if it does not build playoff rosters. At the very least, he can take comfort in knowing he escaped before Paul Skenes is traded to the Yankees. Byron Buxton: Solving the MVP Equation With a Calculator and a Calendar Buxton’s New Year’s resolution is less about baseball skill and more about advanced math and load management. The goal is to finish top-10 in MVP voting while appearing in just enough games to qualify without angering the baseball gods. This will require perfectly timed hot streaks, national TV highlights, and at least one stretch in which he carries the team for two weeks before being immediately listed as day-to-day. If executed properly, Buxton can secure his contract bonus, remind everyone of his ceiling, and still leave fans wondering what might have happened if he had played another 30 games. Royce Lewis: Becoming Indispensable Before the Next Spreadsheet Update Lewis enters the year with a resolution to force his way back into the Twins’ long-term plans before his name becomes a movable asset in trade deadline rumors. The strategy is straightforward. Stay healthy just long enough to mash in high-leverage situations and make any conversation about his future deeply uncomfortable for the front office. Ideally, Lewis will produce at a level where fans argue he should be untouchable while decision makers quietly check his service time and injury history. If all goes well, he will be both central to the future and perpetually discussed as expendable, which is the true mark of a Twins cornerstone. T.C. Bear: Bringing the Energy to a Quiet Ballpark Perhaps the toughest resolution of all belongs to T.C. Bear. His task is to get fewer than one thousand fans fired up during an early-season weekday game when the temperature is barely above freezing, and half the crowd is there for the free beanie. With season tickets expected to crater, the mascot will need new routines, new jokes, and possibly new pyrotechnics. If he can get a genuine roar out of that crowd, he deserves a roster spot. Resolutions are easy to make and more challenging to keep, especially in baseball, where patience is preached, and urgency is avoided. The Twins will enter another season promising flexibility, smart decisions, and internal improvement. Maybe some of these resolutions will stick, and maybe they will quietly fade by summer. Either way, the calendar has turned, and hope has been renewed, which in Minnesota might be the most reliable tradition of all. View full article

Image courtesy of William Parmeter (Photo of Yasser Mercedes) For an organization operating without the financial muscle of baseball’s biggest spenders, the international market has always been a necessary avenue for the Minnesota Twins. It is also one where the returns have been frustratingly limited. Looking back at the international classes from 2019 through 2022 provides a snapshot of both promise and persistent questions about development, patience, and ceiling. 2019 International Class The clear success story from this group is Emmanuel Rodriguez, currently ranked as a consensus top-100 prospect. At the time, he was MLB Pipeline’s 12th overall prospect in his international class. At the time of his signing, MLB Pipeline wrote, “Athletic with a strong body and medium frame, Rodriguez has shown a solid hitting approach and advanced knowledge of the strike zone for a player his age. He has an efficient swing that creates lots of backspin and generates power to all fields.” Rodriguez has become one of the most intriguing players in the system, even drawing internal comparisons that place him just behind Walker Jenkins. Injuries have slowed his rise, but the underlying profile remains rare. A walk rate north of 20 percent paired with a strikeout rate above 30 percent is unusual, yet Rodriguez has still produced a 135 wRC+ in 2025 thanks to his power and elite strike zone awareness. He played the entire season at Triple-A, putting him on track for a 2026 debut. Rodriguez represents the best version of what the Twins hope to find internationally. Advanced plate discipline, projection, and a carrying tool that can survive modern pitching environments. 2021 International Class There was no 2020 signing period as MLB combined two international classes because of the pandemic. Danny De Andrade has quietly built one of the more stable offensive resumes in the system. At the time of his signing, MLB Pipeline ranked him the 14th-best prospect in his class. At the time, MLB Pipeline wrote, “De Andrade has the ingredients to develop into an impact hitter. He shows off excellent bat speed from the right side of the plate and can drive the ball to all fields.” Last season, De Andrade repeated High-A and posted a wRC+ above 100 for the fourth straight season. His .317 OBP and .387 slugging percentage do not jump off the page, but a career-best .158 ISO hints at gradual strength gains. Defensively, De Andrade has moved off shortstop, splitting time between second and third base, which puts more pressure on the bat to carry. Fredy Michel shows the other side of the international equation. Once ranked 27th in his signing class, Michel never found consistency at the plate. Across parts of three seasons, he hit no higher than .163 and averaged a 77 wRC+. Despite early speed and double-digit steal totals, his bat stalled, and he has not appeared in affiliated ball since 2023. 2022 International Class Yasser Mercedes entered 2025 looking like a potential breakout. After a strong 2024, he struggled in Fort Myers, slashing .199/.309/.331 with an 87 wRC+. The speed remains loud, with 36 steals, and he continues to log most of his innings in center field. The offensive inconsistency underscores how thin the margin can be for toolsy international prospects. At the time of his signing, MLB Pipeline said, “The 17 year old Mercedes had some of the best raw tools in this international class…He has the chance to drive the ball from the right side of the plate and could end up having better than average power as he fills out that frame and physically matures.” Yilber Herrera might be the most extreme example of modern plate discipline without contact. In 49 games between the Complex League and Low-A, he posted a .361 wOBA and a 114 wRC+ despite hitting below .160. A 25.9 walk rate carried the profile, but the lack of contact will be tested quickly as he climbs. Defensively, he has begun to see less time at shortstop. When he signed, MLB Pipeline said, “The teen has a good feel for hitting and can spray the ball across the outfield. He’s a smart baserunner when he gets on base. Herrera has a chance to stay at shortstop because of his above-average defensive actions and plus arm potential.” Bryan Acuna brings pedigree and projection, as both his brothers played in the big leagues last season (Ronald Acuna Jr. and Luisangel Acuna). Ranked just inside MLB Pipeline’s top-40 in his class, he reached Low-A in 2025 and posted a 96 wRC+ in 78 games. Strikeouts remain an issue, and power production has been minimal so far. The feel for the game is evident, but the bat needs to translate that feel into results. At the time, MLB Pipeline said, “Bryan grew up around the game, and it shows. He’s been praised for his plus makeup and feel for hitting. He’s aggressive and a playmaker. What he lacks in now tools, he makes up for with his baseball IQ, feel for the game and overall awareness.” Across these four classes, a pattern emerges. The Twins have found players with strong plate discipline, athleticism, and makeup, but turning those traits into consistent impact has been elusive. Rodriguez stands as the exception, not yet the rule. For a mid-market team, falling behind internationally is not an option. These signings show flashes of a coherent philosophy, but the next step is to translate that promise into big-league production. Which of these international prospects do you believe still has the best chance to break through, and what changes would you like to see from the Twins in their approach to the international market? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

Image courtesy of © Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Prospect lists are snapshots in time, and for the Twins, the picture is already starting to blur. The current Twins Daily top five of Walker Jenkins, Kaelen Culpepper, Eduardo Tait, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Mick Abel represents a system that is very close to turning the page. Jenkins, Culpepper, Rodriguez, and Abel all finished last season at Double-A or higher, and Connor Prielipp, Kendry Rojas, and Gabriel Gonzalez are right there with them. Only Dasan Hill and Tait remain below that level. With that many players knocking on the big-league door, it feels inevitable that next winter’s list will look very different. A year ago, my New Year’s Day projection included Jenkins and Culpepper at the top, followed by Charlee Soto, Brandon Winokur, and Marco Raya. In hindsight, the exercise was always going to be unfair. Few could have predicted the fire sale at last year’s trade deadline, which reshaped the system overnight. Tait and Abel were not even in the organization at that point. Soto likely would have been closer to a Top 5 spot if not for injuries, while Winokur still has upside but needs to regain momentum after a disappointing stint in the Arizona Fall League. Raya struggled at Triple A and now looks more likely to impact the club out of the bullpen in 2026. With that context in mind, here is an early look at what the Twins' Top 5 prospects could look like on New Year’s Day 2027. 5. Marek Houston, SS Houston, Minnesota’s 2025 first-round pick, sneaks onto the list thanks to his defensive foundation and hope for steady offensive growth. He will never be a middle-of-the-order bat, but the Twins value shortstops who can stay at the position, and Houston has the instincts and arm to do just that. If the bat continues to progress, he becomes a very safe everyday projection. He could quickly rise through the system in 2026 and finish the year in the upper minors. 2026 Prediction: Houston makes his big-league debut in September. 4. Charlee Soto, RHP Soto gets a second chance here after an injury interrupted his rise. He was limited to three starts last season, but there is a reason the Twins targeted him with the 34th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. When healthy, he shows the type of fastball and breaking ball combination that can anchor a rotation. Durability remains the question, but the upside is still very real, and the Twins will give him every opportunity to start. 2026 Prediction: Soto gets back on track in 2026 and pitches over 100 innings between High- and Double-A. 3. Riley Quick, RHP Minnesota took Quick with the 36th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft and could have been a higher pick if not for missing his entire sophomore season following Tommy John surgery. Quick represents the modern pitching prospect with power stuff and some remaining refinement needed. In his junior season, he posted a 3.92 ERA with a 3.49 FIP and a 25.9 K%. His velocity and ability to miss bats could push him quickly through the upper minors. 2026 Prediction: Quick will be the organization’s minor league pitcher of the year as he jumps from the low minors to Triple-A. 2. Eduardo Tait, C Catchers with offensive upside can be tough to fit on prospect lists because they have to hit and provide defensive value. Tait’s bat is the carrying tool, and if he continues to hit as he climbs the ladder, his defensive questions will matter less. In 2025, he posted a 103 wRC+ across two levels while facing older pitchers in every plate appearance. By 2027, he could be viewed as the Twins catcher of the future. 2026 Prediction: Tait’s defense and game calling will make significant strides as he gets accustomed to the Twins system. 1. Justin Lebron, SS There are many different directions the Twins could go with the number three pick in July. College shortstop Roch Cholowsky is the consensus number one pick, with prep shortstop Grady Emerson as the likely second pick. Minnesota could take Lebron if they want to go the college route, or Jacob Lombard, a prep shortstop with a baseball bloodline. LeBron is the favorite at this point, and the Alabama shortstop earns 60 grades across four of his five tools. If he lands in the Twins system, he becomes the obvious choice at the top. 2026 Prediction: Lebron solidifies himself at the top of the draft as the clear third pick for the Twins. Predicting prospect lists is always risky, but the direction is clear. The Twins are on the verge of graduating a wave of talent, and the next era will be defined by a new group of high upside players stepping into the spotlight. Who will make the Twins top prospect list in one year? What direction will the Twins go with the third pick next July? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

Image courtesy of © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images The Minnesota Twins’ competitive window has felt perpetually cracked open for the better part of a decade. Rarely slammed shut, never fully open. At the center of that uneasy balance sits Byron Buxton, the face of the franchise and its most complicated variable. Buxton has three years remaining on his team-friendly extension, and as things stand today, there is no clear indication that Minnesota will be a true World Series contender at any point during that stretch. That reality makes the next few seasons feel more like an evaluation period than an opportunity. Still, baseball has a way of humbling certainty. Teams that look mediocre in March can find themselves dogpiling in October. Rosters that feel one move away can collapse overnight. Buxton’s presence alone keeps the Twins relevant, and his ceiling remains higher than almost any player in the organization. The question is whether the timing ever aligns. Rumors are already unavoidable. If the Twins fall out of contention again and pivot further toward selling veteran pieces, Buxton’s name will surface in trade conversations. He holds a no-trade clause, but that protection does not mean immovability. Buxton is now in his early 30s, with a lengthy injury history and a finite number of games left in his career. The chance to play meaningful October baseball elsewhere could be tempting, especially if Minnesota’s direction becomes clearer by midseason. Here’s a look at the next three seasons, what it could mean for the Twins, and how the Byron Buxton winning window is shrinking. 2026: Running It Back and Hoping The most likely outcome for 2026 is familiarity. The Twins appear poised to run back much of last year’s roster and hope for organic improvement from their young core. FanGraphs’ initial projection of an 82-80 record paints the picture perfectly. Competitive, relevant, but far from secure. Top prospects are waiting in the wings, and many are expected to debut during the season. Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Gabriel Gonzalez all finished at Triple-A last season. That said, rookies are supplements, not saviors. Expecting them to replace established production is rarely realistic. For Buxton, 2026 represents another season of carrying disproportionate weight, both on the field and in how the franchise is perceived nationally. 2027: Chaos Creates Opportunity The 2027 season may never resemble a normal year. A looming labor dispute brings a strong chance of a lockout that could delay the start of the season. If negotiations drag on, MLB may shorten the schedule and expand the postseason to preserve revenue. That kind of chaos can flatten the playing field. More playoff teams mean more paths into October. For a club like Minnesota, that matters. The Twins saw this happen in 2020 during the COVID-shortened season. A hot month or two could be enough. By then, the young pitchers, like Mick Abel and Kendry Rojas, acquired in recent years, may be ready for the spotlight. Arms that currently feel theoretical could become the backbone of a playoff run. In October, structure matters less than momentum, and weird things tend to happen. 2028: Swan Song or Turning Point The 2028 season could represent Buxton’s swan song in a Twins uniform. He has been clear about wanting to be a Twin for life, but the next three years will test that commitment on both sides. If his performance continues to resemble his 2025 campaign, extensions could remain on the table. If not, the cold reality of aging curves will loom. Coming out of a potential lockout, this is the ideal time for Minnesota to push more aggressively. A young core featuring Jenkins, Rodriguez, Luke Keaschall, and Kaelen Culpepper could be ready to emerge. Supporting that group properly might finally align Buxton’s timeline with a legitimate window of opportunity. The Twins do not need to choose between rebuilding and contending just yet, but they are running out of time to avoid that decision. Buxton’s contract provides flexibility, leverage, and pressure all at once. Whether Minnesota capitalizes on that window or watches it quietly close will define the next era of Twins baseball. Do you believe the Twins can build a true contender before Buxton’s contract runs out, or is a difficult decision inevitable? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints (photo of Gabriel Gonzalez) For much of the past several seasons, the Twins have leaned heavily on left-handed power at the big league level, particularly in the outfield corners. That trend is not slowing down anytime soon. Minnesota’s current roster includes bats like Matt Wallner, Trevor Larnach, and James Outman, all of whom must produce next season after mixed results in 2025. Waiting in the wings is Emmanuel Rodriguez, one of the top prospects in baseball, and even the organization’s crown jewel, Walker Jenkins, swings it left-handed. There is nothing inherently wrong with that profile, especially when the power plays from the strong side of the platoon. Still, roster balance matters. Late-inning matchups, division rivals stacking left-handed relievers, and simple lineup construction all become trickier when the offense leans too far in one direction. In an offseason where payroll flexibility could be limited, the Twins may need to look inward rather than shopping for an external right-handed bat. Fortunately, the farm system does offer a few intriguing options. None is a sure thing, but each brings some level of right-side power that could help reshape the lineup as soon as next season. Gabriel Gonzalez (Twins Daily No. 9 Ranked Prospect) Gonzalez is already on the 40-man roster, and that alone puts him squarely in the conversation. After a breakout season, he finished the year at Triple-A and forced the organization to take a long look at how close he really is. The 21-year-old hit .329/.395/.513 (.908) with a 148 wRC+ with a 14.5 K%. Gonzalez brings a compact swing with surprising pop and has shown the ability to drive the ball to all fields with 38 doubles and 15 homers in 123 games last season. While he is not a pure slugger in the traditional sense, the power is real enough to matter, especially when paired with his improving approach. The question with Gonzalez has always been defensive home and ultimate ceiling. Last season, he split time between left and right field. Even so, a right-handed bat who can hold his own in the corners and punish mistakes is valuable, particularly when he is already positioned to contribute without additional roster maneuvering. He will start the year at Triple-A but should make his MLB debut in the first half. Kala'i Rosario If the Twins are looking for raw power, Rosario might be the loudest answer. He landed back on the radar in a big way this season, and the power is hard to ignore. Rosario crushed 11 home runs in August alone and finished with 25 on the year to lead the Double-A Texas League. In 130 games, he hit .256/.358/.487 (.844) with a 131 wRC+ and a 12.6 BB%. Even with those totals, Minnesota left him unprotected from the Rule 5 Draft, and 29 other teams passed him over. There is swing and miss in his game (27.5 K% in 2025), and it will always be part of the package. Still, Rosario balances that with a willingness to take walks and a clear understanding of his damage zones. He will play most of 2026 at age 23, which is a crucial context point. He faced older pitchers in 84.5% of his plate appearances last season. He is young for his level, still learning, and already producing elite power numbers. If the contact rate improves even marginally, the upside is significant. Kyler Fedko (Twins Daily No. 18 Prospect) Fedko is not always mentioned alongside the louder names in the system, but he remains an interesting sleeper. He reached Triple-A last season as a 25-year-old and combined for 28 homers, a 130 wRC+, and a 21.2 K%. He brings athleticism, sneaky pop, and the kind of versatility the Twins tend to value. Last season, he played all three outfield positions and spent some time at first base. What Fedko offers is balance. He is a right-handed hitter who can impact the ball without being a one-dimensional slugger. Many wouldn’t consider him a top prospect because of his age. However, player development is rarely linear, and Fedko can provide big-league value. If the Twins are prioritizing lineup flexibility and defensive versatility, Fedko could carve out a role faster than expected. Ricardo Olivar Olivar is the furthest away of the group, but the upside is intriguing enough to mention. Last season, he played the entire season at Double-A, posting a 114 wRC+ and a 12.0 BB%. He flashes power potential and has shown the ability to control the strike zone as he climbs the organizational ladder. Minnesota also continues to use him as a catcher, a position with few long-term prospects in the organization. For an organization that may need internal solutions, Olivar represents the longer-term bet. The other names on this list will likely reach the big leagues before him, but a hot start to the 2026 campaign could force him back into the team’s long-term plans. He is not likely to impact the major league roster immediately, but his right-side power potential is something to keep an eye on as the system evolves. The Twins may not solve their lineup imbalance overnight, but the answers do not have to come from outside the organization. With a system that quietly features multiple right-handed power bats at different stages, Minnesota has options. The next step is figuring out which one is ready to seize the opportunity. Which name stands out as an impact right-handed bat? Who has the highest upside? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

Image courtesy of © Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports In the first half of this countdown, the lower half of the list highlighted how rarely the Minnesota Twins have dipped into free agency and come away with long-term value. Even the players ranked ten through six carried some combination of brevity risk or narrow roles. That is simply the reality for a franchise that has historically relied far more on development and trades than open checkbooks. The top five tell a different story. These are not just valuable contributors or pleasant surprises. These signings shaped seasons, changed expectations, and in some cases altered the direction of the franchise itself. Each arrived with a clear purpose and delivered at a level that justified the investment, even if the contract length was short or the window was brief. What separates this group is not just production but timing. These were players signed when the Twins were ready to win or desperate to matter again. Free agency did not merely supplement the roster here. It defined it. 5. Jim Thome, DH Contract(s): 2-years, $4.5 million 2010-2011 Seasons: 4.5 rWAR, .266/.387/.562 (.949) 158 OPS+ The Twins signed Thome late in his career and got exactly what they needed. He brought massive power, instant credibility, and a historic milestone when he hit his 600th home run while wearing a Twins uniform. He was a linchpin in the team’s 2010 AL Central title and provided some of the most memorable moments in Target Field history. 4. Brian Harper, C/1B Contract(s): 6-years, $6.26 million 1988-1993 Seasons: 13.4 rWAR, .306/.342/.431 (.773), 110 OPS+ Harper was never flashy, but he was productive and dependable. He provided offense from the catching position and played a meaningful role on competitive teams, including the 1991 championship club. In that epic World Series, he slashed .381/.435/.476 (.911) with two doubles. Harper might be one of the most underrated players from the Twins teams of the early 1990s. 3. Chili Davis, DH/OF Contract(s): 2-years, $4.5 million 1991-1992 Seasons: 5.2 rWAR, .282/.385/.476 (.862), 136 OPS+ Davis was a vital piece of the 1991 World Series team. He got on base, drove in runs, and delivered in the postseason. In the 1991 ALCS, he went 5-for-17 (.294 BA) with two doubles and five walks. In the epic World Series, he hit two key home runs and posted a .556 SLG. For a short-term signing, his value could hardly have been higher. 2. Jack Morris, SP Contract(s): 1-year, $3.7 million 1991 Season: 4.3 rWAR, 3.43 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 125 ERA+ One season was enough. Morris signed before 1991 and anchored a championship rotation. His ten-inning shutout in Game 7 of the World Series remains one of the most iconic performances the sport has ever seen. In that 1991 World Series, he posted a 1.17 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP in 23 innings. He was an All-Star and finished fourth in the AL Cy Young voting during his lone Twins season. 1. Nelson Cruz, DH Contract(s): 3-years, $39 million 2019-2021 Seasons: 8.3 rWAR, .304/.386/.598 (.984), 162 ERA+ There may be debate over who gets the top spot, but Cruz is a deserving candidate. His arrival before the 2019 season transformed the Twins' lineup overnight, and his 41 homers helped power the team to a record-breaking home run season. He provided veteran leadership and mentorship on a team that won over 100 games. Few free agent signings have delivered that level of impact so quickly in Minnesota. It also helps that the Twins were able to flip his expiring contract to the Rays for Joe Ryan. The Top 5 free agent signings in Twins history represent the rare moments when Minnesota fully extracted value from the open market. None of these players were perfect fits forever, and most did not stay long. That is not the point. Their impact was concentrated, meaningful, and often unforgettable. From championship-defining performances to offensive transformations, these signings show what free agency can look like when conviction meets opportunity. The Twins may never be a franchise that lives at the top of the market, but history suggests they do not need to be. They just need to be right. Do you agree with the Top 5 rankings? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

Image courtesy of © Matt Blewett-Imagn Images The half-century history of MLB free agency has produced plenty of excess but also moments where a single signing reshaped a franchise. The Minnesota Twins have rarely been a team that chased the most prominent names or set the market. Instead, their relationship with free agency has been deliberate, cautious, and occasionally brilliant. Modern free agency traces back to a turning point in the winter of 1975 when arbitrator Peter Seitz ruled in favor of pitchers Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally. By playing a full season without signed contracts, the two exposed the weakness of the reserve clause and cracked open a system that had bound players to teams indefinitely. The decision completed the work long championed by Marvin Miller and Curt Flood and forever changed the balance of power in Major League Baseball. Owners warned of chaos and competitive ruin, but what followed was simply a new path for roster building. Teams willing to spend wisely could supplement their cores without waiting years for internal development. For a market like Minnesota, that opportunity mattered even if it was rarely pursued aggressively. Working backward here is a countdown of the best free agent signings in Twins history, judged solely on what those players did after arriving in Minnesota. 10. Shannon Stewart, OF Contract(s): 3-years, $18 million 2004-2006 Seasons: 2.3 WAR, .287/.347/.405 (.752), 97 OPS+ Stewart came to the Twins at the 2003 trade deadline as a pending free agent. He was a catalyst for that club’s division title, so Minnesota re-signed him as a free agent and became one of the most reliable hitters of the early 2000s. He hit for average and set the table at the top of the lineup, and provided steady outfield play across multiple seasons. 9. Carlos Correa, SS Contract: 1-year, $35.1 million 2022 Season: 5.3 rWAR, .291/.366/.467 (.834), 138 OPS+ The first Correa contract lands in the top-10 largely because of its brevity. Even so, his lone season in Minnesota featured elite defense at shortstop and middle-of-the-order production when healthy. It was arguably his most productive season in a Twins uniform. The opt-out capped the long-term value, but the short-term impact was undeniable. 8. Phil Hughes, SP Contract(s): 6-years, $66 million 2014-2018 Seasons: 5.7 rWAR, 4.53 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 95 ERA+ The Minnesota Twins signed Hughes in December 2013, hoping to revive his career in a pitcher-friendly park. After a record-setting 2014 season (16-10, 3.52 ERA, MLB-best K/BB ratio), they extended him in December 2014 for five years and $42 million, totaling $66 million over six years, though injuries later hampered his performance. The first deal was good, but the extension aged poorly. 7. Juan Berenguer, RP Contract(s): 4-years, $2.03 million 1987-1990 Seasons: 6.4 rWAR, 3.70 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 115 ERA+ Berenguer gave the Twins durability and effectiveness out of the bullpen for years. Relievers rarely draw much attention, but his consistency and workload made him a quiet asset during an era when stability mattered. He became a cult hero during the team’s 1987 World Series run, and the Twins continued to invest in him for multiple seasons. 6. Paul Molitor, DH/3B/1B Contract(s): 3-years, $9.775 million 1996-1998 Seasons: 5.2 rWAR, .312/.362/.432 (.794), 104 OPS+ Molitor arrived at age 39 and immediately authored one of the greatest late-career seasons in franchise history. In 1996, he hit .341/.390/.468 (.858), led the AL in hits, and reached 3,000 hits. The hometown Hall of Famer helped revitalize the Twins in the late 1990s and eventually returned to coach in the organization after his retirement. The Twins have never built their identity around free agency. Still, these signings show that when timing and opportunity align, the open market can deliver franchise-defining moments. Even in a cold-weather market, sometimes the right bat or arm can change everything. Do you agree with the rankings above? Which names do you expect to be in the top five? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

The Minnesota Twins entered the offseason surrounded by questions about direction and intent after a trade deadline that saw nearly 40 percent of their major league roster moved to cut payroll and restock the farm system. That kind of sell-off usually signals more changes to come, but the early indications suggest Minnesota is drawing a clear line. The Twins appear committed to keeping their veteran core intact, including Pablo Lopez, Byron Buxton, and Joe Ryan, rather than continuing down a full teardown path. That commitment has become increasingly apparent as rival teams continue to check in on Ryan. Interest around the league has not slowed, but the Twins’ response has. According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, Minnesota is no longer engaging in meaningful trade conversations involving the right-hander. “Teams continue to ask the Minnesota Twins about right-hander Joe Ryan, who is under club control for two more seasons. The Twins, though, continue to say they are not shopping Ryan, and one person briefed on their talks said they haven’t even discussed him with other clubs since before the GM meetings in early November.” This is the second time this winter that Rosenthal reinforced the idea that Ryan is expected to remain in the organization for next season. The message has been consistent, and perhaps most telling is the detail that the Twins have not even discussed Ryan internally with other clubs since early November. This is not posturing or leverage building. It sounds like a firm stance. From the outside, the interest makes complete sense. Ryan is under club control for two more seasons, has proven he can miss bats at a high level, and fits neatly into the rotation of almost any contender. For a team that already showed a willingness to move significant pieces in July, trading Ryan would be an easy way to continue shedding payroll while bringing back a meaningful prospect haul. But context matters, and this is where the Twins drawing a line feels justified. The American League Central remains wide open. Minnesota has endured two straight disappointing seasons, yet a powerhouse rival does not stand in the way of a return to relevance. If Ryan and Pablo Lopez stay healthy, the bullpen finds its footing again, and the young hitters take even modest steps forward, the Twins can absolutely contend for a postseason spot. That is a lot of ifs, and nobody should pretend otherwise. Still, there is a difference between acknowledging risk and surrendering before the season begins. Trading Ryan now would be a clear signal that the Twins are not interested in finding out what this roster can be. There is also no urgency. If the team finds itself buried again next summer, the trade deadline will still be there. Ryan will still have value. For now, fans deserve to see whether this group can put the pieces together and chase another playoff birth. View full rumor